Automatic vending-machine.



'Nm-696,0". Patented Mar. 25, |902. B. M. DAVIS. I AUTOMATIC VENDINGMACHINE.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Application led Feb. 21, 1901.)

(no Model.)

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No. 696,0". Patented Mar. 25, |902. B. M. DAVIS.

AUTUMATIC VENDING MACHINE.V

(Application led Feb. 21, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BETI'IUEL M. DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ADVANCE MACHINECOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC VENDING=IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,011, dated March25, 1902.

Application filed February 21, 1901` Serial No.48,258 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..- ably constructed. with glass ortransparent Be it known that I, BETHUEL INI. DAVIS, a sides 1, Thisreceptacle has a hinged top 2, citizen of the United States, residing atChiprovided with lock 3 to facilitate filling, and cago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illiits bottom is formed with sloping sides to con-55 5 nois, have invented certain new and useful stitnte a hopper 4,which has a central open- Improvements in Automatic Vending-Maing 5,toward which the material gravitates. chines, of which the following isafull, clear, The bottom ef the receptacle 1 rests upon a and exactspecification. frame 6, which if the machine is of square My inventionrelates more particularly to form would be rectangular and if circularA6o ro automatic vending-machines for vendingmawould be annular and openat top and botterial in bulk, such as nuts and othergranutom, and thisopen frame 6 rests upon the uplar substance or material composed oflumps; per side of the base-box 7. These three memandit has foritsprimary object to provideimbers-namely,the receptacle 1,the open frameproved and simple coin-actuated mechanism 6, and the base-box 7-aresecured together by 65 15 for vending-machines of this character.Vertical screw-rods S, which pass downwardly With these ends in view myinvention conthrough the corners of the receptacle 1 and sistsin certainfeatures of noveltyin the conalso through corner-lugs 9, formed in eachstruction, combination, and arrangement of corner of the base-box 7, andunder said corparts by which the said objects and certain ner-lugs 9 therods are provided with nuts 10, 7o zo other objects hereinafterappearing are atwhereby the three described members may be tained, allas fully described with reference firmly bound together. to theaccompanying drawings and more par- The upper side of the base-box 7 isformed ticularly pointed out in the claims. with a way or support 11 fora measure 12 to In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a front eleslide upon,the measure l2 being of sufficient 75 z5 vation of my improved machine.Fig. 2 is a depth to extend from the way 11 up to the vertical sectionalview thereof, taken on the lower end ofthe hopper 4, Where it is proline2 2, Fig. 1, showing the measure in its vided with the opening 5, andthis measure normal or retracted position ready to receive may beequalin diameter to the size Ofsaid a charge from the hopper above. Fig.SisA a opening. The measure l2 is open ltop and bot- 8o 3o similarsection with the top of the machine tom, so that when under the opening5 the broken away, showing the measure advanced contents of thereceptacle 1 will drift into the for delivering the charge. Fig. 4 is aplan measure and will be supported by the sides section taken on theirregular line 4 4, Fig. 2. thereof and the way 1l, upon which the meas-Fig. 5 is a detail view of the inner face Vof the ure slides. The rearend of the measure 12 85 35 coin-slot and connected mechanism. Fig. 6 isprovided with a valve or shutter 13, which is a detail plan View ofthemeasure and the is of sufiicient size to entirely close the opengatewhich controls the exit of the coins from ing 5, when the measure isadvanced to dethe coin-slot, the measure being shown in its liver thematerial. The forward end of the retracted or receiving position. Fig. 7is a way 11 is cut away, as shown at 14, to form 9o 4o similar Viewshowing the measure advanced an aperture for the discharge of thematerial for delivery. Fig. S is a detail view of a part from themeasure 12 when the measure arof the coin-slot and the coin-gate,showing the rives at its advanced position, and located dimanner inwhich the coins are permitted to rectly under this aperture 14 is amaterialdischarge from the slot one at a time. Fig. 9 chute, the bottomof which is composed of an 9 5 45 is a detail view of the coin-seat,showing a inclined plate 15, secured in anysuitable mancoin therein, ashereinafter described; and ner tothe bottom of the way l1 and havingFig. 10 is a detail section taken on the line l0 its outer end situatedWithin the mouth or 10, Fig. 4. aperture 16, where the materialdischarges 1 represents abox or receptacle constituting into a suitablereceiver 17. The forward side roo 5o the upperpartof the apparatus forcontaining of the measure 12 is provided with an inthe material to beVcnded, and it is prcferwardly-projecting lip 1S, which prevents thebottom of the'measure from being exposed over the aperture 14 before thevalve or shutter 13 has suiciently closed the opening 5 toprevent anymaterial part of the contents of the receptacle 1 from running directlythrough the opening 5 into the chute 15.

' The sides of the material-chute, of which 15 is the bottom-plate, areconstituted by two wings 19, formed on and supported by two arms 20,which are pivoted at 21 to the basebox 7. The bottom-plate [its betweenthese wings 19, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and whenthe measure12 is advanced over the aperture 14, as shown in Fig. 3, the wings 19will have risen sufficiently to fully constitute the sides of thematerial-chute and prevent the material from escaping into the basebox7. The lower end of the V-shaped opening left between the front of theboX 7 and the outer edges of the arms 2O when the measure 12is initsretracted or receiving position, as shown in Fig. 2, may be closed bytwo lips or anges 22, formed on the edges of the bot- A tom-plate 15,thus avoiding the possibility of any fragments which may linger in thechute fromvescaping through these V-shaped open ings into the box 7. Y

Formed on the side arms 21 and projecting outwardly therefrom is acurved valve or 'shield i23, which is struck on an arc from the centerof the pivot 21, so that as the arms 20 oscillate back and forth lthisvalve or shield v willfalternately open and close the mouth ordischarge-opening 16. y Thus when the measure, 12 isl advanced to itsdelivery position the contents will be discharged into the chute 15 19and held therein by the valve 23 until the measure 12 is returned to itsreceiving position, whereupon the material will run out into thereceiver 17.v This valve serves the further useful purpose of closingthe discharge-outlet 16 sulcientlytoi prevent a direct passage beingestablished between the measure 12 and such discharge`aperture whilethe-measure is in communication with the opening 5 in the bottom of thehopper or reT ceptacle 1. The valve 23 may be thus actuated .by means ofan exterior handle 24. Projectingupwardly from the upper side of thiscurved valve 23 is an arm 25, which works between two branches 26,Vconstituting a bifurcation or projection on the forward side of themeasure12. ,(See-Figs. 6 and 7.) In the absence of a coin the arm Y25will be free to work back-and forth between these bran ches 26 withoutaltering the position of the measure 12; but whena coin isldeposited inthe coin-slot 27 it gravitates therethrough until it strikesan incline28, which `is preferably formed on the inner wall of the open framemember 6, kwhich directs the coin againsta pair'of stops 29, formed onthe branches 26, respectively, near their outer ends'and adjacent tontwoinwardly-projectinglugs 30, formed on the extremitiesof the branches 26,and which lugs constitute a coin-seat for holding the coin 31, in themanner better shown in Fig. 9.,. Assuming that the arm 25 is at theextremity of its inward movement in the position shown in Fig. 2,therefore it will be seen that when it is again moved forward bypressure upon the handle 24 it will strike against the coin 31, restingin its seat and being held by the lugs 30, and will consequently pullthe measure 12 with it into the delivery position illustrated in Fig. 3.The end of the way 11, or the plate which constitutes said way, isslotted outwardly from the forward side of the aperture 14 to permit ofthe free movement ofthe arm 25, and the edges of this slot 32 areprovided with ratchet-teeth 33, which engage with the coin and lock themeasure 12 against inward movement in the event it should be attemptedto return it for refilling before the coin has been advanced the fulllimit of the movement of the arm 25 and allowed to escape. The branches26 on ,their inner sides, at points between the lugs 30 and stops29, arecut out to form notches 34, so as to permit the coin to slip downwardlybetween the branches 26 when not restrained fromy below. When the coinfirst drops into its seat between the lugs 30 and stops 29, it issupported from below by the edges of the slot 32, which are closertogether than the width of thecoin and which at this particular pointare not provided with the teeth 33. After thelower edge'of the coinleaves the plain edges of the slot 32 it is supported Aand preventedfrom dragging against they ratchet-teeth 33 while moving in a forwarddirection by means of a notch or shoulder 34, formed onthe forward sideof the arm 25; but bythe time the arm 25 reaches the limit of itsforward movement, as shown in Fig. 3, the shoulder 34 `:vill have turneddownwardly from under the coin to permit the coin to escape into alateral downwardly-inclined coin-chute 35, whose lower end 36 dischargesintothe base-box 7, which also constitutes a coin receptacle or bank.The arm 25, and consequently the measure position by means of a spring37, secured to one ofthe wings 19 and to a suitable fastening 38 on thebasev member 39. `During this forward movement of the measure 12 thecoin-stops 29 pass through the incline 28, and to this end such inclineis bifurcated, as shown at 281. The bottom rof the' coin-slot 27 isprovided with a shortvincline 27a, Vadjoining the incline 28, and theslot 27, together with s uch incline 27a, is formed in a separatecasting or member, the lower part 40 of which constitutes the frontofthe basebox 7, in which the discharge-aperture 16 is formed, while theupper part 41 forms the outer side of the coin slot or chute 27. andalso the outer side and bottom of the lateral coin-chute `35. The backof the coin-chute 27 and lateral chute 35 is constituted by a plate 42,preferably composed of brass or bronze or other non-magnetic metal andhaving formed thereon a lip 43, turned inwardly over the incline 27 todirect the coin onto IOO IIO

the incline 2S. This plate 42 ata point about midway between the upperand lower ends of the coin slot or chute 27 is provided with ahorizontal aperture or slot 44, arranged under an inwardly-projectinglip 45 and over an inclined rib 46, which constitutes the bottom ofanother` coin-chute when the plate 42 is covered over by an additionalplate 47, and secured between the plates 42 47 in any suitable manner isa horseshoe or other suitable permanent magnet 4S, having its endarranged over and opposite the slot-44. This is for the purpose ofattracting slugs or bogus coins that may be dropped into the slot 27,and thus defiecting them through the slot 44 into the chute constitutedby the inner faces of the plates 42 47 and the rib 46. The lower end ofthe rib 46 is continued into a downwardly-extending rib 49, which leadsdownwardly into the coin-receptacle or base-box 7 and constitutes oneside of a vertical chute for the bogus coins, while the other sideV ofsuch chute is constituted by the edge 50 of the casting 4l. The magnet48 is suspended or held in .place by being let into a recess 51, formedin the plate 47. The plate 47 is held in place by screw or other device52.

Extending in the opposite direction from the lateral coin chute 35 is anadditional coin-chute 53, which perchance will receive some of the coinswhich fall from the notches 34. Both of these coin-chutes 35 53 areprovided in their outer faces with transparent coverings 35 53,respectively, in order that the coins therein may be visible. Thecoinchute 53, however, has no outlet and is simply for the purpose ofholding in plain sight one or more coins.

In order that the coins falling into the chute 35 may be retainedtherein until said chute 35 becomes lled with them and then allowed toescape one at atime, I provide an automatic gate, as shown in Figs. 6and 7. This gate consists of a lever 54, pivoted at 55 to the back ofthe plate 42 and having a linger 56, which passes through a suitableaperture in the back of said plate and intercepts the coin that wouldroll from the chute 35, said finger 56 being held normally projectedacross the path of the coin by a spring 57. the measure l2 movesforward, however, a downwardly-projecting arm 58 on the side thereofstrikes against a cam or arm 59, proj ecting from the lever 54,and thuscompresses the spring 57 and withdraws the linger 56, permitting thecoin resting against the finger 56 to escape into the box 7 through theoutlet 36; but as it withdraws the finger 56 it introduces anotherfinger 60 at the upper or rear side of the escaping coin, so as tointercept and prevent the escape of the next coin, which will be held byfinger 60 until the measure 12 recedes, whereupon the finger 56 willagain return to normal position for intercepting the coin as it isreleased by finger 60.

If desired, the capacity of the measure l2 may be varied at willby theinsertion therein When of a block l2:L of the desired thickness, suchAas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. This block may be held in place byscrews 12b in the sides of the measure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture therein, a measure open at top and bottom arrangedunder said aperture, a valve or shutter actuated by said measure forclosing said aperture,`a runway closing the bottom of said measure andon which said measure slides, said runway having an aperture with whichsaid measure coincides, a chute arranged under and leading from saidaperture, exterior means for operating said measure disconnectedtherefrom, means for causing a coin to connect said measure and eX-terior operating means and means for closing the outer end of said chuteas the measure approaches said aperture in the runway, substantially asset forth.

2. In a machine for the purpose described the combination ot' a hopperhaving an aperture, a measure open at top and bottom arranged under saidaperture, a valve or shutter actuated by said measure for closing saidaperture, a runway closing the bottom of said measure and on which saidmeasure slides, a plate secured under the line of movement of saidmeasure and constituting the bottom of a chute for receiving thematerial from said measure, exterior means for operating said measuredisconnected'therefrom and having side wings embracing said plate andconstituting the sides of said chute and means for causing a coin toconnect said measure and exterior operating means, substantially as setforth.

3. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture in the bottom, a measure arranged under said apertureand having a shutter for closing said aperture, an arm for actuatingsaid measure, a runway on which said measure slides having an aperturewith which said measure coincides for the discharge of thematerialtherefrom, and a slot for the back-andforth movement of said arm, amember on said measure having a bifurcation coincident with said slotalso for receiving 4said arm, a

cross-slot or coin-seat in said member for hold-A ing a coin in front ofsaid arm, and means for oscillating said arm against said coin foradvancing said measure, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture in the bottom, a measure arranged under said apertureand having a shutter .for closing said aperture, an arm for actuatingsaid measure, a runway on which said measure slides having an aperturefor the discharge of the material from said measure and a slot for thcbackand-forth movement of said arm, a

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member on said measure havinga bifurcation coincident with said slotalso for the reception of said arm, a cross-slot or coin-seat in saidmember for receiving and holding a coin in front of said arm, means foroscillating said arm against said coin for moving it and the measure inone direction and ratchet-teeth on the edge of said slot for engagingsaid coin when moved in the reverse direction substantially as vsetforth.

5. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture in the bottom, a measure arranged under saidaperture, an arm for actuating said measure, means for closing saidaperture when the measure moves forward,a runway on which said measureslides, a bifurcated member on said measure for the reception of saidarm having a cross-slot or coin-seat for holding a coin infront of saidarm, ratchet-teeth arranged adjacent to the line Of movement of the coinas it rests in said seat and means for elevating said coin out ofengagement with said ratchet-teeth as the coin advances with themeasure, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture in the bottom, a measure arranged under saidaperture, an arm for actuating said-measure, means for closing saidaperture when the measure vmoves forward, a runway on which said measureslides, a bifurcated member on said measure for the reception of saidarm having a cross-slot or coin-seat for holding a coin in front of saidarm, ratchet-teeth arranged adjacent to the line of movement of the coinas it rests in said seat, and a shoulder on said arm for engaging underand elevating said coin out of engagement with said ratchet-teeth as thecoin advances with said measure, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture, a measure arranged to receive material through saidaperture, a member connected with said measure and having a cross-slotfor the reception of a coin, an arm for engaging the coin in said slotand having a shoulder adapted to supportl the coin against downwardmovement while resting therein, a coindisplay chute having its upper endarranged under said cross-slot when the measu re reaches the forwardextremity of its movement, said `shoulder being adapted to turn fromunder said coin at said extremity and means for actuating said arm fromthe exterior, substantially as set forth.

S. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a measure,a member connected with said measure and having a coinseat/,anactuating-arm for said measure adapted to pass said coin-seat, acoin-stop arranged back of said coin-seat, means for directinga coinagainst said coin-stop and thereby deflecting it into said seat, meansfor supplying said measure with material and means for actuating saidarm from the exterior, substantially as set forth.

9. Ina machine for the purpose described the combination of the base-box7 having a discharge-aperture in the side thereof, the plate 1lextending across the top of said baseboX and constituting a runway, theplate 15 secured to said plate 1l and constituting the bottom of a chuteleading to said dischargeaperture, a measure sliding upon saidplate 1l,the open frame member 6 supported on said box 7, a receptacle supportedon said frame member 6 and having a hopper in the bottom thereofprovided with an aperture ar ranged over said measure, means for securing said base-box, a member 6 and receptacle together,a coin-seatconnected with said measure,l a coin-incline formed on said member 6 andleading downwardly to said coin-seat and means for actuating saidmeasure through the medium of the coin on said seat, substantially asset forth.

10. In a device for the purpose described the combination of a hopperhaving an aperture therein, a measure movable into and out of registerwith said aperture, means affixed to and movable with said measurecomprising two side supports for engaging the side edges of a coin, saidsupports being a sufficient distance apart at their lower edges topermit the coin to slip downwardly from between them, means for holdingthe coin against said downward movement during a part of the movement ofthe measure, an exterior operating means having a member movable on theare of a circle between said supports and provided with means adapted toengage under and support said coin throughout another part of themovement of the measure, and also means for im'pinging the back of thecoin while resting between said supports,whereby said operating meanswill move said measure through the medium of the coin throughout thestroke of the measure and support the coin against downward movementthroughout a part ol the stroke, substantially as set forth.

BETI-IUEL M. DAVIS. Witnesses: l

EDNA B. JOHNSON, F. A. HOPKINS.

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